The Trossachs and Loch Katrine

I never weary of seeing Loch Katrine. Everytime I visit the place, I see it in a different light or mood. These photographs will help to illustrate my point. They were taken a few weeks earlier in the season that the last posing I made, and were taken from virtually the same places. Yet they have a completely different feel about them.

The Trossachs and Loch Katrine

I normally park the car at the eastern end , where the harbour is, then start cycling around the private road on the northern edge of the loch. Its around twelve miles to Stronlachlachur where I then cycle back the way I came. Its an energetic journey as its full of ups and downs but it is well worth the effort, especially on a lovely autumn day. Here are some view all taken for within the first mile of the car park.

The road is private but cyclists are allowed to use it. It can be quite hilly so a full return journey to Stronlachacher is only for the fit.



Ben Venue towers over the south east end of the loch. Its steep slopes prevented the road from being built right round the loch.



The loch can be quite narrow at parts near the eastern end before it open out into its full width.



A couple of islands reflect on the still water just before the loch starts to open out.



The autumn trees add a splash of colour to the south bank as the loch starts to get wider.

The Trossachs and Loch Katrine

I guess I am lucky in that I live in the Trossachs and without doubt, it is a photographer's paradise. There is no need for me to travel far to see the beauty of Scotland, its all around me. Over the next day or so, I hope to show you why I say the Trossachs is such a beautiful part of the country

One of my favourite places to visit either by foot or bicycle is Loch Katrine and there is nothing better than to see it early in the morning, before the wind wakes up and ripples the water surface.

These photos were all taken at the harbour where the Sir Walter Scott and the Maid of the Loch tie up to take tourists a trip down the water.

Caithness, Keiss and other small harbours

Another fine Caithness castle ruin is the one that stands on the cliffs just north of the village of Keiss. It was built in the 1600’s by the Earl of Caithness but was abandoned in the 1700’s because part of it’s walls collapsed when the cliff broke away into the sea.



The Earl then built the newer Keiss Castle further inland away from the crumbling coast line and it is still inhabited to this day.



Although there is not much in the way of sea lochs or islands along the north east coast of Scotland, there are plenty hidden coves, bays and harbours for small boats to find shelter in. Keiss boasts a lovely little harbour and historic harbour house.



Lybster is another small fishing harbour and has a distinct lighthouse marking its entrance.





Staxigoe, just to the north of Wick is another one of numerous shelters from the cruel north sea when the winds blow.



Although the north east coast is very exposed, there appears to be no shortage of small boats making use of its little harbours, and it is a lovely area to explore. If I have some free time next summer and there is a settled spell of weather, perhaps I will explore it further in my small boat

Caithness and Castle Grinigoe

Caithness has many old castles dotted along its coastline but my favourite one must be Castle Grinigoe just to the north of Wick. The ruined castle built from Caithness slabs is like many others in the area but its the location that makes this my firm favourite. It stands on an outcrop of the sea cliffs beside a very unusual shaped sea stack.

I tried to visit it both at sunrise and at sunset to try and photograph it in dramatic lighting conditions but they didnt materialise. However, I found that by converting one of my day time shots to Black and White captured the mood that I was after.











To save me some typing .. I "stole" some of its history from this web site

http://www.castlexplorer.co.uk/scotland/girnigoe/girnigoe.php

Castle Sinclair Girnigoe was the home of the Sinclair family, Earls of Caithness. The dramatic ruins are gradually falling into the sea, and its perilous position on steep cliffs make it a castle that should be visited with care.

Girnigoe Castle was built around the late 14th to early 15th centuries on a rocky promontory, and was defended on the landward side by great ditches, spanned by drawbridges. The main feature of this castle is a three or four storey tower house, probably completed towards the end of the 16th century although there are the remains of 15th century buildings beneath it. During a period of redevelopment at the castle in the early 17th century, George Sinclair (4th Earl) obtained an Act of Parliament to change the name from Castle Girnigoe to Castle Sinclair. However it appears that the two names became associated with different parts of the castle leading to the impression that there were two castles on the site.

The Campbells of Glenorchy briefly occupied the castle after emerging victorious from a battle with the Sinclairs. In 1680, George Sinclair of Keiss, who later became the 7th Earl, removed the Cambells by force, partially destroying the castle in the process.

In recent years the ownership of the castle has been returned to the Earls of Caithness, and is listed as the official seat of the Earldom. The castle is currently maintained by the Clan Sinclair Trust who are working to preserve it.

Camster Cairns and the Hill O Many Stanes

The most famous Caithness Archaeological site must be Camster Cairns which date from around 3500 BC. They are thought to have been burial chambers and ritual sites. There are three cairns, one round cairn, one long cairn and one in ruins.

The cairns were excavated in 1865 and pieces of pottery, human skeletons, burnt bone and flint tools were found in the round cairn. Modern excavations were complete in the long cairn in 1980 and its roof and walls were repaired with the original stone which had been plundered to build a near by sheep pen.

A view of the long cairn.



Looking towards the long cairn from the door of the round cairn.



Inside the long cairn burial chamber.



I had to crawl in on all fours and I’m not so sure I would have been so keen if I had known about the skeletons that had once been buried in the chamber

The Hill O Many Stanes is another well known archaeological site. It consists of around 200 small stones set out in rows and dates from around 1900 BC. Its traditionally believed to have marked the battle field of two rival clans, the Keiths and the Gunns. The Gunns won the battle and set up the memorial by burying the dead of both sides in rows and placing a stone at the head of each warrior.





Im not sure why but I always feel quite young after visiting these ancient monuments.

Caithness and the Yarrow Trail

Caithness also has some great inland walks full of history and interest. One of my favourites being the Yarrow Archaeology Trail. Its around a two mile hike in the hills around Yarrow Loch and spans a time period of over 300 generations of people. The well preserved long cairn burial chamber dates from 3000 BC while the iron age broch dates from around 200 AD. Numerous other standing stones and cairns are abundant in the surrounding hills.

The Iron Age Broch from 200 AD



The loch Cairn Burial Chamber from 3000 BC



Various other standing stones and cairns